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I have Windows XP Pro with all updates. My problem is that sometimes
when I start my computer everything seems to be starting ok except 1
or 2 of my startup programs doesn't put it's icon down in the system
tray near the clock. That in itself isn't the problem, only a symptom.
When it does this nothing I double click on opens. I can try to open
everything on my desktop and I get the hour glass for a few seconds
like it's trying to open the app but then the hour glass disappears
and I get nothing. The start menu opens instantly but nothing in there
will open either. I wish I could get task manager open so I could see
if something is running that's using all the processor or something
but I can't even get it to open. Then after about 2 to 5 minutes every
last thing I tried to open suddenly starts opening.

Has anyone had a similar experience and is there a way for me to
figure out what's causing my system to hang like this?

Seems to me one of your startup apps is having trouble launching, and it is
causing the problem you are observing. I would disable the background apps
one by one with MSConfig, and then run the computer each time trying to
reproduce that behavior. I think you will probably find one startup app that
is responsible, and once disabled, the system will start up properly each
time.


...
"Kyote" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I have Windows XP Pro with all updates. My problem is that sometimes
> when I start my computer everything seems to be starting ok except 1
> or 2 of my startup programs doesn't put it's icon down in the system
> tray near the clock. That in itself isn't the problem, only a symptom.
> When it does this nothing I double click on opens. I can try to open
> everything on my desktop and I get the hour glass for a few seconds
> like it's trying to open the app but then the hour glass disappears
> and I get nothing. The start menu opens instantly but nothing in there
> will open either. I wish I could get task manager open so I could see
> if something is running that's using all the processor or something
> but I can't even get it to open. Then after about 2 to 5 minutes every
> last thing I tried to open suddenly starts opening.
>
> Has anyone had a similar experience and is there a way for me to
> figure out what's causing my system to hang like this?
>

Kyote <> wrote in news:rcbqtv0niulc6v8epem36v4a2lp4dsb27k@
4ax.com:

> I have Windows XP Pro with all updates. My problem is that sometimes
> when I start my computer everything seems to be starting ok except 1
> or 2 of my startup programs doesn't put it's icon down in the system
> tray near the clock. That in itself isn't the problem, only a symptom.
> When it does this nothing I double click on opens. I can try to open
> everything on my desktop and I get the hour glass for a few seconds
> like it's trying to open the app but then the hour glass disappears
> and I get nothing. The start menu opens instantly but nothing in there
> will open either. I wish I could get task manager open so I could see
> if something is running that's using all the processor or something
> but I can't even get it to open. Then after about 2 to 5 minutes every
> last thing I tried to open suddenly starts opening.
>
> Has anyone had a similar experience and is there a way for me to
> figure out what's causing my system to hang like this?
>
>

You can use Process Explorer or Prcview along with Active Ports to see
what is happening and all are free and each one will allow you to
terminate a tasks.

Also use the *Auditing* features of XP itself to track what is happening
on the machine. The link explains how and what to use to audit events on
XP.

Sounds to me like you machine has been compromised with some kind of
malware.

http://www.uksecurityonline.com/husdg/windowsxp.php

Duane

On Mon, 15 Dec 2003 07:20:11 -0500, "Thor" <> wrote:

>Seems to me one of your startup apps is having trouble launching, and it is
>causing the problem you are observing. I would disable the background apps
>one by one with MSConfig, and then run the computer each time trying to
>reproduce that behavior. I think you will probably find one startup app that
>is responsible, and once disabled, the system will start up properly each
>time.
>
>

Thanks Thor. I'll give your suggestion a try. I didn't think it would
work because it only happens occasionally, like 1 out of 4 or 5 times.
But your right. I shouldn't have passed the idea up just because it
foesn't happen all the time.

>You can use Process Explorer or Prcview along with Active Ports to see
>what is happening and all are free and each one will allow you to
>terminate a tasks.
>
>Also use the *Auditing* features of XP itself to track what is happening
>on the machine. The link explains how and what to use to audit events on
>XP.
>
>Sounds to me like you machine has been compromised with some kind of
>malware.
>
>http://www.uksecurityonline.com/husdg/windowsxp.php
>
>Duane

Thanks for your response Duane. I'd try your recommendation except
none of the programs you recommend would open when I'd need them to in
order to check what is causing it. But thank you for trying to help. I
really appreciate it.

Kyote <> wrote in news:taertv8o7f5gi9k0kmhcchkgn9l0fk3k5d@
4ax.com:

>>You can use Process Explorer or Prcview along with Active Ports to see
>>what is happening and all are free and each one will allow you to
>>terminate a tasks.
>>
>>Also use the *Auditing* features of XP itself to track what is
happening
>>on the machine. The link explains how and what to use to audit events
on
>>XP.
>>
>>Sounds to me like you machine has been compromised with some kind of
>>malware.
>>
>>http://www.uksecurityonline.com/husdg/windowsxp.php
>>
>>Duane
>
> Thanks for your response Duane. I'd try your recommendation except
> none of the programs you recommend would open when I'd need them to in
> order to check what is causing it. But thank you for trying to help. I
> really appreciate it.

Even at that, XP's Auditing features will run in the background tracking
eveything that's happening on the computer, if enabled. Then you can use
XP's log viewer and view the events (right-click a line) to see the
detailed info on it. It may help you see the pattern of events and what's
running that's causing the problems.

Duane

I've had (still have) same problem as you with those missing icons in the
system tray. When you boot up and go thru POST, then come to the blue login
screen, do not be in a hurry to click yourself on. Let it sit idle for 60
seconds, and you'll then see your hard-drives activty light flicker away.
Give it another 45 secs or so, then click yourself on. I'm willing to bet
you'll now see all the icons that are supposed to be there. Sounds goofy and
don't know why, but thats the only way I was able to eliminate the problem
after fighting it for months.


"Kyote" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I have Windows XP Pro with all updates. My problem is that sometimes
> when I start my computer everything seems to be starting ok except 1
> or 2 of my startup programs doesn't put it's icon down in the system
> tray near the clock. That in itself isn't the problem, only a symptom.
> When it does this nothing I double click on opens. I can try to open
> everything on my desktop and I get the hour glass for a few seconds
> like it's trying to open the app but then the hour glass disappears
> and I get nothing. The start menu opens instantly but nothing in there
> will open either. I wish I could get task manager open so I could see
> if something is running that's using all the processor or something
> but I can't even get it to open. Then after about 2 to 5 minutes every
> last thing I tried to open suddenly starts opening.
>
> Has anyone had a similar experience and is there a way for me to
> figure out what's causing my system to hang like this?
>